July 28 - Combined Sunday School - Selflessness

This Week's Supported Workers are Steve and Sue Mayo.

The Children's Church Lessons are after the combined Sunday School resources.

Definition:  To pursue selflessness means placing the well-being of others before your own needs and desires.

Basic Kid's Definition:  Thinking of yourself less.

Big Question to think about:  How does selflessness make itself known in the Gospel?

• as shown in Jesus Christ
• as necessary for each of us

Some verses to consider:

• Proverbs 18:1: 

An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and, against all sound judgment, starts quarrels.

• 
  
• Philippians 2:1 – 4.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

 

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind. 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.

The contrasts in Philippians 2:1-4...

Selfish ambition or conceit (selfish) - - humility (selflessness) 

Not only your own interest - - the interests of others.

• 
  
• James 3:16

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Some practical examples to consider

What does selflessness look like...

In my family?

In my church?  https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2017/10/how-are-you-planning-to-walk-into.html

Children's Church Lessons

Toddler

• Paul Followed Jesus
• God wants us to serve Him
• Acts 9:1-22
• Hebrews 9:14

PreK/ K

• God Sends His Missionaries
• God sends missionaries around the world
• Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-20
• Mark 16:15

1^st–5^th  CC

• Serving Others
• God wants us to follow Christ’s example by lovingly serving others
• Philippians 2:1-11
• Galatians 5:22, 23

July 21 - Combined Sunday School - Faithfulness

This week's supported workers are the Mayos.

The Children's Church Lessons are after the combined Sunday School resources.

Today's Resource page and coloring page. 

Definition: To pursue faithfulness means acting with INTEGRITY, keeping your word, and doing what is right before GOD, with FORTITUDE, and without COMPLAINT because you trust God to give you the ability to complete all things he has given you to do

Some verses to look at:

• 1 Corinthians 4:1—2
• Psalm 31:23—24
• Proverbs 28:20
• Revelation 2:10
• 1 Samuel 12:24
• Hebrews 11

 Suggested Parent/Child Activity: 

Read the Bible stories of people in Hebrews 11 and read or watch stories of faithful Christians throughout history.

• Torchlighters Videos: Official Page  |  Youtube
• Church History for Kids:  Banner of Truth Video  |  Some Books Available Reformation Heritage Bookstore
• Do Great Things for God:  Good Company Company Video |  Some Books Available Reformation Heritage Bookstore
• Christian Heroes:  Then and Now:  Amazon

Memory Verse:  1 Samuel 12:24

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart;
Consider waht great things he has done for you.

Prayer: 

Thank God for who He is—Faithful God
Thank God for salvation—Saving Faith
Ask God for help in living for His Glory—Our Faithfulness

CHILDREN'S CHURCH LESSONS

Toddler

• Peter Wrote God’s Word
• God told people what to write in the Bible
• 1 Pt 1:1; 5:7; 2 Pt 1:1,21
• 1 Pet 5:7

PreK/ K

• God Helps His Missionaries
• God meets missionaries’ needs
• Acts 12:1-19
• Mark 16:20

1^st–5^th  CC

The Armor of God

• God provides all we need for victory over sin and Satan
• Eph 6:10-20
• Gal 5:22,23

July 14 - Combined Sunday School - Purity

This Week's Supported Workers of the Week are the Layers in Poland.
Check out this video about their ministry.

Click HERE for Sunday's combined Sunday School notes sheet and coloring page.

For a list of songs we sing, click HERE

Definition: 

To pursue moral purity means choosing to live by the highest moral principles in both speech and physical relations despite your own desires to do otherwise and despite any external pressures to compromise.

For Mike DIckinson's breakdown of this definition, go to drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2024/07/purity.html23.

Memory Verse: Psalm 119:9, 11

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

Some verses to look at:

• Psalm 119: 9, 11
• Romans 8
• Philippians 4:8
• 1 Timothy 4:12
• 1 Timothy 5:1-2
• 1 Timothy 5:22 

The Desiring God article entitled "More Than Sexual Purity" contains an excellent challenge for Christian men.

Where would you look in the Bible to build a stronger, fuller vision for Christian men?

First Timothy 4:12 is a familiar, yet strangely overlooked, map for men.  The apostle Paul writes to his spiritual son, Timothy, a young man (not child) and elder in the church,

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

In your Christian living, do you consider how you speak and spend your life, what good you are to others, how passionate you are for God, and how you live a pure life?

The same article states that "worldliness - overt or subtle devotion to pop culture, sports, movies, shopping, social media, or whatever lures you must - can be as spiritually polluting as sexual temptation (James 1:27)."

A godly, pure life is not lived in our own strength.  It must be lived in dependence on the holiness of God the Father, the work of God the Son, and the power of God the Holy Spirit.

"The battleground of a Christian war is your heart...  This is a war for your soul.  And, like most wars, it is fought to be won or lost.  There is no peacekeeping treaty.  God is jealous for your heart, and he is not going to concede this territory to the devil (Jer. 31:33)."  Reju, Deepak.  Pornography: Fighting for Purity

Remember, Purity is a Heart Battle.

 

Don't Blame the Mud is the children's book I referred to.  Here is the link to the author reading this book, https://youtu.be/rym8mRLFF9w?si=fTxoOIcpK8696zLC

Daily Prayer:  

Dear Lord, help me live in the holiness that honors You. Help me not to fall into the traps of our sinful nature.  Help me not to make myself impure by dabbling in idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, uncontrolled anger, greed, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, or drunkenness.  These things bring pain to myself and others.  I desire to live with You, Lord, as my focus as I help my neighbors as much as possible.  Purity will show when I live with patience, kindness, and sincere love.  Then, I can testify to the power of the Holy Spirit that enables me to do any good deed.  Amen.  Adapted from crosswalk.com

July 7 - Combined Sunday School - Courage

This week's supported workers of the week are the Layers in Poland.

Children's Church Lesson information follows the Kids & Parents Sunday School Class Info.

Here is the information from this week's Mark of a Christian Lesson on COURAGE.

Detailed notes from the Adult Christian Education class are HERE
Take Home Sheet from the Kids/Parents time is HERE

Combined Parents and Kids Sunday School Class.

We began the class with some songs.  If you want to watch or listen to these or other songs we sing, click HERE

• Fruit of the Spirit 
• 1 Timothy  (VBS song)
• Jungle Jam (VBS song)

Explain July’s combined class

The definition of COURAGE from Time for the Talk

To pursue courage means choosing to do what is right despite the opposition of others or your own desires (often the more difficult enemy)

In our Look at the Bible time, we did two things.

First, a Word Search in Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1.  Families got together to see what verses contained one or both of these words (or a form of these words.
STRONG & COURAGE  

Then we talked about other examples of Courage in God's Word.

Old Testament examples of COURAGE

Examples while outside of  the Promised Land:  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Esther

New Testament Examples of COURAGE

John the Baptist, Paul, Peter and John in Acts 5.

A Recent historical example of COURAGE

Martyn Lloyd Jones, The Doctor Who Became a Preacher. 

We then worked on this week's memory verse, Joshua 1:9, and sang Joshua 1:9 song. 

Suggested Parent/Child Activity:

Get a bottle, sand, very small rocks, and a little bigger rocks.

Which way fills the bottle up more?

1. Sand.  2.  Small rocks, 3.  Bigger rocks.
OR
1.  Bigger rocks.  2.  small rocks.  3.  Sand

Daily Prayer: 

Father God, give us wisdom to know what is right and the courage to reject that which is corrupt. May we hide Your Word in our hearts so that we may not sin against You. May we be like Joshua, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and do the right thing no matter what. Amen

Children's Church Information:

Toddler

• People Prayed for Peter
• God wants us to talk to Him in prayer
• Acts 12:1-6
• 1 Thess 5:17

PreK/ K

• God Directs His Missionaries
• God guides His missionaries
• Acts 8:4-8,12, 26-40
• Acts 8:26

1^st–5^th  CC

• Living by the Spirit
• The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live for God
• Gal 5:15-26; Eph 4:17-32
• Gal 5:22,23

June 30 Kids in Church

Other class details are below the Kids in Church information.

This week is a KIDZ in Church Sunday.  There will be no children's church for 1st through 5th graders.

For General KIDZ in Church help, click HERE

This week's message focuses on being a living sacrifice as it relates to our use of money.

Blanks are IN RED.
Additional Talking Points are IN ITALICS.

The God wants us to be living sacrifices with our MONEY (Why do you think how we spend our money is important? What are some ways you/we spend our money that shows our priorities?)

We obey the law because we LOVE God, not because we FEAR jail time.  (Love is a greater motivator.  Read portions of Psalm 119 and talk about what the Psalmist writes about the word of God.  

Government has the right to levy taxes & we have the responsibility to PAY them. 

God did not save us for the purpose of civil re VOLU tion, but rather heart re FORMA tion.

If you owe taxes, pay TAXES ;  if revenue, then REVENUE;

if respect, then RESPECT; if honor, then HONOR.

I want to give you some biblical precept to take with you. 

1. Do not borrow more than you can pay BACK  (Read Psalm 37:21)
2. Do not go into debt to UPGRADE your lifestyle. 
3. Pay your bills on TIME.
4. Pay all credit card debt at the end of every month.
5. Live within or BELOW your means.
6. Put money into savings/Investments.
7. BUDGET your money, have a spending plan.
8. Only borrow money on appreciating - increasing value - items, (Homes, investments, college depending on your degree) not depreciation – decreasing value - items (toys, vacations, spas, food) 
9. Do this so you can be a generous GIVER.

We are spiritual debtors of LOVE to all people,  not just the ones we LIKE  (Read Matthew 5:44.  Remember, they will know we are Christians by our love) 

REMEMBER:  We did not EARN God’s love. 

Consider how you can talk to your kids about how to use money for God's glory.

HERE are the KIDZ sermon notes.  

Here are some additional resources to parents help their kids with money.

• Give Kids the Big Picture of Stewardship
• Teaching Kids How to Budget - Crown Ministries.

Other Kids Classes Information.

Toddler

• Dorcas Helped People
• God uses people to help us serve
• Acts 9:36-42
• Gal 5:13

PreK/ K

• The Church’s Problem
• Christ uses us to meet church needs
• Acts 6:1-7
• Gal 5:13

2^nd-3^rd SS

• Paul Saw the Light
• God will save anyone who trusts in Jesus for salvation
• Acts 9:1-31

4^th–5^th SS

• The Church’s Purpose
• Christ commands believers to witness and make disciples
• Matt 28:16-20; Rom 10:9-17

June 23, 2024

This week's supported workers is Faith In Deeds

NEXT WEEK IS KIDZ IN CHURCH SUNDAY!

Toddler

Healed Man Praised God
God loves to hear us praise Him
Acts 3:1-11
Psalm 111:1

PreK/ K

The Church’s Prayer
Christ answers our church’s prayers
Acts 4:1-31; 5:12, 17-42
Acts 4:31

2^nd-3^rd SS

The Church Endured Persecution
God’s servants sometimes experience rejection and persecution
Acts 5:17-8:4

4^th–5^th SS

The Church’s Ordinance
Christ instituted baptism and communion as ways to remember Him
Matt 26:26-28; 1 Cor 11:23-32

1^st–5^th  CC

The Tribulation
God will judge unbelievers for their sins during the tribulation
Dan 9:27; Matt 24:21; 2 Th 2:3-8; Rev 6-16 

The 1st—5th Children's Church lesson is challenging to teach, especially after a great week of VBS.  
THE TRIBULATION was taught in a way this morning that was meant to show
God's holiness and justice
God's mercy to His people
God's faithfulness to His promises
Our responsibility to share the Gospel with others.

While there are scary elements of the Tribulation, there is a peace and hope in Christ that is seen in the topic.

Jungle Journey Thursday

A summary of the whole week will be posted Sunday night.

Our Final Night's C was Consummation.

At the end of the Bible, in Revelation, we see the return of Christ, the end of sin and the curse.

This week, we learned about Jesus humbly coming to earth as a baby in a manger and humbly dying on the cross and then rising from the dead.

In Revelation, we see that one day Jesus will return gloriously!

Our memory verse, Revelation 21:4, summarizes this truth.

Our final total for Faith In Deeds offering was over $800.  Thank you so much for giving to this home for orphaned and abandoned children.

Despite having lower numbers than in previous years, we are excited about the opportunity to minister to the children and families brought to VBS this year.

Singing 

Serving

Thank you to everyone who served in so many different ways.  It was great to see church members serving children, praying, and singing praises to God.    

For pictures and more, go to www.facebook.com/trinitybaptistgr/

For all our Jungle Journey post, click HERE